Manhattan College Alumnus And Engineering Professor Receives Award For Outstanding Contributions To Chemical Engineering

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Dr. Robert J. Farrauto, adjunct professor of chemical engineering at Manhattan College and 1964 alumnus, has received the 2005 Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Practice Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Sponsored by pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., this award recognizes individuals who have made pioneering contributions to industrial practice of catalysis and chemical reaction engineering. The award was presented to Farrauto on October 31 during AIChE’s annual meeting.

Farrauto, who currently teaches a course at Columbia University’s earth and environmental engineering department, is a research fellow at Engelhard, a surface and materials company based in Iselin, N.J. He leads a research team of 15 scientists and engineers, and develops advanced automobile emission control catalysts and catalysts for the chemical industry. His team has commercialized 20 new fuel-processing catalyst/adsorbent technologies, and with his research work has helped generate over $300 million in revenues for the company.

Farrauto earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Manhattan and went on to complete his doctorate in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1968. In 2002, he received the award for excellence in precious metal catalysis sponsored by the International Precious Metal Institute. Farrauto is also the 1998 recipient of the Canadian Catalysis Foundation Lectureship Award.

In the spring semester, Farrauto will be teaching a new senior-level course at the College on industrial catalysis. The course will be based on his book Fundamentals of Industrial Catalytic Processes, which was co-written with C.H. Bartholomew. Farrauto is the author of several books on catalytic processes.

The AIChE is a professional association of more than 40,000 members, which provides leadership in advancing the chemical engineering profession. The 94-year-old group fosters and disseminates chemical engineering knowledge, supports the professional and personal growth of its members and applies the expertise of its members to address societal needs worldwide.
Manhattan College, founded in 1853, is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning that offers more than 40 major programs of study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, along with graduate programs in education and engineering.